Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society

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Home > Photograph Collections > Mystery Photos

Mystery Photos

Many families either donate their Tazewell County family photographs to our Society or allow us to copy them.  Unfortunately, many of these photographs are undated with unnamed persons taken at an unknown location.

We will be publishing one or two photographs each month in The Monthly newsletter and on our website.  All additional details we have will accompany each photo.  Click on a photo to see it full-size!

Please contact us, even if you are not 100% sure of your information—sometimes a tiny tidbit can lead to big results!  Thanks for your help!

April 2023 Mystery Photo 1
Appears to be a parade on Court Street in Pekin for Washington Junior High School. What year and what was the celebration?
April 2023 Mystery Photo 2
Appears to be a parade on Court Street in Pekin for Washington Junior High School. What year and what was the celebration?
Photo of Pekin Theater interior
Pekin Theater Circa 1928
Can you name the goddess featured above?
Photo of circa 1946 Pekin Theater Staff
Staff of Pekin Theater about 1946 - 2nd Lady in front row is Leona Aque Dunn. Can you name the rest of the staff?
February 2023 Mystery Photo 1
Photo taken before 1975. Joseph Logan Unland is the third man from left, receiving the award. What was the award? Who are the others in the photo and where was it taken? Partially identified! From left: Jim Unland, one of Jim's sons (Jim or John). Man at far right is Charles Karch.
February 2023 Mystery Photo 2
Vogel’s Market - Virgil Vogel & Lish Davis are at left. Who are the women and when was the photo taken? Partially Identified! Lady behind the counter is Jean Johnson.
January 2023 Mystery Photo 1
Undated Pekin Baseball team photo. The man in the center of the back row with glasses is Edwin Lampitt who sponsored the team. If you can identify the date, location or any person in the photo, please let us know.
December 2022 Mystery Photo 1
The Pawson School was about 2 miles southeast of Delavan - the back of the photo states the children are Joyce Newlin, LeRoy Newlin, Donald Newlin, Dick Dirks, Albert Dirks, George Dirks, Nelda Rademaker, Floyd Rademaker, Donald Yelton, Shirley Yelton, Helen McCoy, Jerry Detmers, and Jerry Orndorff. Does that match the order the children are in? Include the small children on the sled? Any idea of the year of the photo?
December 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Photo was taken about 1954/1955 at a birthday party in Pekin, Illinois. The girls were told to dress up in their mother's clothes.
Front row - Judy Linebaugh, Judy ?????, Gail Albertsen
Back row - ?????, Charlene Brown, Nancy Albertsen, Charlotte Frings, Julie Warren
Questions: Missing names? Whose birthday was it? Where was the photo taken?
November 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Any idea of the date & location of this Masonic group? Or, can you identify any of the individuals?
October 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Perhaps a Morton Area family? Can you identify this couple?
October 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Perhaps a Morton Area family? Can you identify anyone?
Photo of Union House Hotel
Union House Hotel
Circa early 1890's
Corner of 2nd Street & Court in Pekin from 1876-1930.
Does anyone recognize any of the gentlemen in the photo?
August 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Can you name these men or tell us the date of the photo?
August 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Do you recognize this structure - perhaps a Peoria building? Identified!! Thanks to member Angie Sneeringer who identified the building as 501 E. Daniel, Champaign, IL, a former fraternity house, that is the current home of the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences.
July 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Thought to be in Spring Lake Twp - What school and what year?
July 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Porter School ca. 1912 in Spring Lake Twp. Bottom Row: Emma N Edwards is 4th from left and John Edwards is 6th from left. Who are the other students and teachers?
June 2022 Mystery Photo 1
This diner is thought to be in Tazewell or Mason county. Does anyone know the name, location, or years in business?
June 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Possibly the interior of Philip Welty's millinery store at 315 Court Street, Pekin – taken around 1900-1910. Did you have an ancestor who worked or shopped in this store?
May 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Photo was taken in the summer of 1945 inside the Tazewell County Courthouse – note the 48-star flag on the wall. The only identified person is in the back row, far right, with George Washington looking over his shoulder – Eldon E Rynerson (1927-2003) of South Pekin. Eldon was just 18 and working at Corn Products Company when he filled out his draft card. By the time he was through basic training the war was over. He spent his Army years stationed in Paris working to rebuild infrastructure. When he returned home, he went to work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Can you identify any of the other men?
May 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Pekin Union Mission Sunday School Class photo taken in the 1920s. The teacher is Henry Frederick Johannes, who taught Sunday School at the Mission for 35 years. Only the boy in the back row far right is known: Louis Charles Zuckweiler. Who are the others?
April 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Michele Hoque sent this photo of a Dee-Mack High student. Tentatively identified as Rona Drummond. Click here for the details!
April 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Michele Hoque sent this photo of a Dee-Mack High student. Identified!! Thanks to Dallas Embry & Brenda (no last name given) for recognizing Richard Rich. Click here for the details!
April 2022 Mystery Photo 5
Michele Hoque sent this photo of a Dee-Mack High student. Identified!! Thanks to Dallas Embry & Brenda (no last name given) for recognizing Don Blair. Click here for the details!
April 2022 Mystery Photo 4
Michele Hoque submitted this photo of a Dee-Mack High School student who graduated between 1948 & 1952. Can you identify him?
April 2022 Mystery Photo 3
Michele Hoque sent this photo of a Dee-Mack High student. Identified!! Thanks to Dallas Embry & Brenda (no last name given) for recognizing Carl Kull. Click here for the details!
April 2022 Mystery Photo 8
Michele Hoque sent this photo of a Dee-Mack High student. Identified!! Thanks to Dallas Embry & Brenda (no last name given) for recognizing Garland Heyes. Click here for the details!
April 2022 Mystery Photo 7
Michele Hoque sent this photo of a Dee-Mack High student. Identified!! Thanks to Dallas Embry & Brenda (no last name given) for recognizing Lyle Wroan. Click here for the details!
April 2022 Mystery Photo 6
Michele Hoque submitted this photo of a Dee-Mack High School student who graduated between 1948 & 1952. Can you identify him?
March 2022 Mystery Photo 1
Do you know this couple? Perhaps part of the Haas-Swoboda family?
March 2022 Mystery Photo 2
Who are these children? Photo taken 1900-1920. Birdsell Children's Wagon made around the turn of the century by Birdsell Manufacturing in South Bend, Indiana. Birdsell also made farm machinery.
February 2022 Mystery Photo
Can you identify this Tazewell County family circa 1930-1940?
January 2022 Mystery Photo
Customers line up to purchase basketball tournament tickets at Central Book & Toy Store, 345 Court, Pekin. What year? Early 1960s?
December 2021 Mystery Photo 1
PCHS Senior Photo - can you identify the person and/or year? Identified!! Thanks to several visitors to our Facebook page who identified this young lady as Anne Louise Smith. Click here for the details!
December 2021 Mystery Photo 2
PCHS 1944 Senior Photo - Do you know her name? Identified!! Thanks to several visitors to our Facebook page who identified this young lady as Sally Wallinger. Click here for the details!
November 2021 Mystery Photo 1
1946 State Championship photo of the Pekin Grays baseball team.. The man standing 2nd from right is Frank L. Trumpy. Can you identify anyone else?
November 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Beth Rosenberg Zweig submitted this photo of the Pekin Grays baseball team sometime in the 1940’s. Identified!! Thanks to Deanna Oltman for identifying all the team members. Click here for the details!
October 2021 Mystery Photo 1
Picture is dated August 20, 1950 - do you know who they are?
October 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Is this the Weeks family of Washington? Can anyone help with names?
September 2021 Mystery Photo 1
Probable circa 1890-1900 Washington, Illinois theater group. Can anyone help with names?
September 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Pekin Junior Women's Club – names we have (Lois Scrogin, Lonn Timke, __ Kohlbacher, Frances Hancock, Donna Coryell, Harriet Higgins, Mae Sarff, __ Maxwell, Ruth Saal) are not in seated order. Can anyone place the right names with the right person and fill in the blanks?
Photo of 1963 Sheriff's Posse
Tazewell County Sheriff's Posse about 1963 - on the far left is Sheriff George Sweeter (1907-1964). He was Sheriff from 1962 to 1964. According to our notes, Helen Deitrich (George's daughter) donated the image. Photo taken on James Field (101 South 9th Street) in Pekin. A car dealer (Ford?) and St. Paul United Church of Christ can be seen in the background. Can you identify the other members of the posse?
August 2021 Mystery Photo 1
First Presbyterian Church Sunday School about 1939/40 - the church is on the left; the old Pekin Library is on the right -3rd girl from the left is Joy Dirkesn. Who are the other girls?
August 2021 Mystery Photo 2
A Green Valley area school class. What year and who are the pupils?
July 2021 Mystery Photo 3
Pekin Community High School Senior Photo - who is he and when did he graduate?
July 2021 Mystery Photo 3
Pekin Community High School Senior Photo - who is he and when did he graduate?
July 2021 Mystery Photo 3
Pekin Community High School Senior Photo - who is he and when did he graduate?
Julu 2021 Mystery Photo 4
Pekin Community High School Senior Photo - who is he and when did he graduate?
Julu 2021 Mystery Photo 5
Pekin Community High School Senior Photo - who is he and when did he graduate?
June 2021 Mystery Photo 1
Possibly a Rapp Family couple - Any idea who they are?
June 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Possibly a couple from Tremont - do you know who they are?
Altorfer Brothers Company (ABC) Baseball Team – 1914
Member Tom Dirksen submitted this photo - taken about 1915 at Mineral Springs Park in Pekin. Identified!! Thanks to member Mary Faux who own a copy of the 1914 newspaper the photo originally appeared in (her uncle is in the photo) Click here for the details!
May 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Taken in Pekin by Konisek about 1910-1915. Can you ID these siblings?
April 2021 Mystery Photo 1
Can you identify this family - possibly from Morton?
April 2021 Mystery Photo 2
1958 5th Grade Class, Rusche Grade School, Creve Coeur - Can you name these children and their teacher?  Member David Perkins identifies the teacher as Laura Rutland - a long-time friend and coworker of his mother.
March 2021 Mystery Photo 1
South Pekin Grade 4 October 12, 1942. Can you name any of these children?
March 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Do you know any details about this church confirmation class circa 1910-1915?Identified!! Thanks to member Connie Ary who recognized this photo matched one of the 1908 Confirmation Class hanging in a hallway of St. John's Lutheran Church - Sand Prairie in Green Valley. Click here for the details!
February 2021 Mystery Photo 1
Any idea who these men are? From our Julius Epkens, Ida Blizzard, John M. Goar Collection.
February 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Note on the back of the photo says "Mrs. George Becker". Photo was taken around 1900. Do you know any additional details? From our Julius Epkens, Ida Blizzard, John M. Goar Collection.
January 2021 Mystery Photo 1
Both photos are of the Easter, Dircks and Behrens families who lived in Pekin and Peoria. Some possible names - Henry Behrens, Walter Behrens, John Behrens, John Dircks, Wesley Dircks, Clarence "Jack" Easter, and Charles Easter. Can you identify anyone?
January 2021 Mystery Photo 2
Both photos are of the Easter, Dircks and Behrens families who lived in Pekin and Peoria. Some possible names - Henry Behrens, Walter Behrens, John Behrens, John Dircks, Wesley Dircks, Clarence "Jack" Easter, and Charles Easter. Can you identify anyone?.
November 2020 Mystery photo
The above picture is of the seven Brown sisters and their mother, Susan America McClintock, born 1843 in Illinois. Their father, John Brown, was born in 1829 in Canada or France. The names of the sisters are Mary Millie born 1866, Georgiana born 1868, Agnes Lucinda born 1870, Lulu Alice born 1874, Josephine Emily born 1876, Augusta "Curtie" Ellen born 1882, and Margaret Jane born 1887. Also, there were two brothers, Caesar Anderson and Johnie Charles. All were born in Tazewell County. THE MYSTERY? - Which name belongs to which sister??
November 2020 Mystery photo
Possible Schmidgall Family - Can you identify anyone?
October 2020 Mystery Photo
Can you identify the girl at the left of this circa 1909 photo taken by B.L. Moore of Eureka?
(L to R): Unknown Girl, Teddy (Theodore) Wagner, Oliver Wagner (standing), Mabel Wagner. The parents of the Wagner children were Washington and Matilda (Blumenshine) Wagner of Washington, Illinois. The unidentified girl does not appear in any census with the family. Matilda's 1957 obituary lists a “Mrs. Ha Look of Pekin who lived with the Wagner's as a girl.” Is Mrs. Look the "unknown girl"?
September 2020 Mystery Photo
Beautiful Cake! Dated April 17, 1907 Identified!! Thanks to members Carol Walker & Thom Reed! Click here for the details!
August 2020 Mystery Photo of young boy.
Photo by Cole Studio - Brother to similar photo? From our Wolfer collection.
August 2020 Mystery Photo of young girl.
Photo by Cole Studio - Sister to similar photo? From our Wolfer collection.
July 2020 Mystery Photo
Can anyone identify this couple? Possible members of the Ezekiel Leonard family who came to Elm Grove Township around 1828. Photo was taken by Cole's during the 1880s.
July 2020 Mystery Photo
Can you name this gentlewomen? Possible member of the Ezekiel Leonard family who came to Elm Grove Township around 1828. Photo was taken by Cole's during the 1880s.
June 2020 Mystery Photo - Unknown youg lady
Can you identify this young lady? Photo by Nash, Peoria. Might be related to Beimfohr family? She lived in the Parkland - Manito area.
June 2020 Mystery Photo - Unknown youg lady
Any idea who she is? Identified!! Thanks to member Susan Bohm who reported “this young lady is Frances Idella Schappaugh. She married Walter Bender.  My mother Verla Schappaugh Pannier has this in her collection.” Click here for the details!
June 2020 Mystery Photo - Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson of Washington
Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson of Washington. Photo by Emil W Bach of Peoria who was in business from 1887-1913. What were their first names & what happened to them?
May 2020 Mystery Photo - Unknown Tazewell County Family
Unknown Tazewell County Family - Can you identify anyone?
April 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of Lady in a Hat
Do you know who she is? Photograph taken by Nash in Peoria between 1904 and 1930. From our Gladys Wolfer Collection
April 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of Possibly Related Men
Can you identify any of these guys? Taken by a Morton photographer.
April 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of Kids
Can you identify anyone? Taken by a Morton photographer. Possible Tremont area children.
March 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of man in Coveralls
Any idea who this man is?
March 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of Lady
Photo taken by HH Cole - Do you know who she is?
January 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of group of men with sign "Morton 13"
Who were the "Morton 13"?
January 2020 Mystery Photo - Photo of two boys in Cowboy costumes
Who are these cuties?
December 2019 Mystery Photo - Vintage photo of young lady
Who is this intriguing woman?
December 2019 Mystery Photo - Danforth School, District 16, 03 March 1937
Danforth School, District 16, 03 March 1937. Can anyone name these children?
Mystery Photo November 2019 - Texaco Station
This photo is part of a collection the Society obtained from a former Morton photography studio. Most of the photos are reprints that customers ordered but without any information about the subjects. This reprint was ordered between 1988 and 1990. Can you help with the names and/or places where the original photo was taken?
Mystery Photo November 2019 - Bride & Groom
This photo is part of a collection the Society obtained from a former Morton photography studio. Most of the photos are reprints that customers ordered but without any information about the subjects. This reprint was ordered between 1988 and 1990. Can you help with the names and/or places where the original photo was taken?
Mystery Photo October 2019
No family names noted on photograph; picture possibly taken in Mackinaw. Donated by Carol Kinsey. Can you supply us with any additional details?
Photo of 1943/1944 Green Valley High School class
Identified!! Our thanks to Grace Hutton Hoerr for naming all the students in this 1944 Green Valley High Class Photo!
    Click here to see the names of the class members.
August 2019 Mystery Photo - 2nd Reformed Church, Pekin, Illinois
2nd Reformed Church, Pekin, Illinois - Lady standing at far left is Reintje Eden. It is presumed the man and woman in the middle are the pastor and his wife; possibly taken between 1900 and 1919. Do you recognize any of these ladies?
July 2019 Mystery Photo - Kirby Salesman
The Kirby Company began in 1935, selling vacuums door-to-door, and continues in business today. This photo appears to be taken in the 1950's. On the back of the photo is - Hubbard Studio, 205 E. Washington Street, East Peoria, Illinois. Can you identify any of the men? If you were a Kirby salesman, tell us your story!!
June 2019 Mystery Photo - Photo was taken by Chris DeSutter Photography of Manito.  It dated on the back as 1912 or 1913.  Can you identify the event and/or anyone in the photo?
AT THE BAZAAR - Photo was taken by Chris DeSutter Photography of Manito. It's dated on the back as 1912 or 1913. Can you identify the event and/or anyone in the photo?
Photo of YWCA Dedication in June 1959
YWCA Dedication in June 1959. Can you name any of these young ladies?
April 2019 Mystery Photo
Identified!! Thanks to Joe Weghorst for naming all the firemen in the 1959 Pekin Fire Department photo!
    Click here to see the names of the pictured firemen
February 2019 Mystery Photo
Photo taken by H.H. Cole around 1890-1900 - can you identify this gentlewoman?
January 2019 Mystery Photo - This photo was found in a box of Blumenshine and Keil family photos from Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois.  Can you identify anyone?
Identified!! Our thanks to Darrel Hunter, who identified, through our Facebook posting, this photo of the John Dingledine family. Click here for more details
Mystery Photo December 2018 - Who are these children, possibly from the Mackinaw area? Photographer Owen B. O'Neil was born in
1871 in Bloomington. In 1895, he took over C. H. Klauer's photography business in Bloomington.
Sometime previous to 1910 he moved to Chicago and died there in 1913. He is buried in Bloomington.
Who are these children, possibly from the Mackinaw area? Photographer Owen B. O'Neil was born in 1871 in Bloomington. In 1895, he took over C. H. Klauer's Bloomington photography business. Sometime previous to 1910 he moved to Chicago where he died in 1913. He is buried in Bloomington.
Mysterty Photo November 2018 - A Morton School class in 1918 - Can you name the school and the grade?  Can you identify anyone in the picture?
Partially Identified!! Thanks to Mary Lynn, Curator of Morton Public Library Historical Collection, for identifying this photo as the 1918 8th grade graduating class of Morton Grade School. She thinks the students are standing in front of the house at 206 W. Jefferson Street in Morton. Can you identify anyone in the picture?
Mystery Photo 10 - Can you name the man & little girl? Taken about 1906.  Pekin businesses in background are Blenkiron Book Store (William and son Harry A.) at 322 Court Street, Heisel (John G.) & Lohnes (William J.) Boots & Shoes at 320 Court Street.  Tailor William Laas is upstairs.
Identified!! - Barbara Brooking Heindselman identified the man driving the carriage as her great grandfather John G. Heisel and the little girl as his daughter Lillian Heisel Brooking, who was Barbara's grandmother.
    Click here to see more details.
Mystery Photo 09
Do you recognize these adorable young ladies? Photograph was taken in 1930 in Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois. Photographer was Martin Rice Shoemaker who was born in Texas and died in Cass County in 1939.
Mystery Photo 08
Class Photo – Chalkboard held by child says “Pekin, ILL 1889”. Do you recognize an ancestor or the school?
Mystery Photo 07
No one in this photograph has been identified. We know it was taken 27 Oct 1912
Mystery-Photo-06
No one in this photograph has been identified. We know it was taken by Anson D. Abbott. Mr. Abbott was born in Bond County, Illinois. He married Sarah Alice Edwards around 1878. They lived in Mason City from 1900 until his death in 1921.
Mystery-Photo-05-Mr&Mrs Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Johnson - Photo was taken 1895-1900 - What are the first names? Other family members?
Mystery-Photo-04-Possible Photo of Mollie Massy
This photo was donated with a collection of Grossweiler family photos. On the back is noted "Will Massy sister Mollie." We could find neither Will or Mollie in any Tazewell Census
2018-03-Mystery-Photo
Langton Lumber Company – located in Pekin on Broadway Street from about 1910 to at least 1921. Can you identify anyone?
2018-02-Mystery-Photo
This picture, mounted on a cabinet card, was taken by the Erler Studio. There are no names or a date on the back. The Erler Brothers had a photography studio located at 1216 South Adams Street in Peoria from 1882-1893.
2018-01-Mystery-Photo
This photograph, probably from the 1930s or 40s, has been in our files for quite some time with no information attached.

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